Alam Kekal

Did you know that whenever you visit any website directly from your Internet connection and PC, you are actually leaving behind a trail in the form of IP number? And depending on what script or cookie (from the website) that you allow to communicate with your PC, some websites can even profile your operating system, browser type and geographic location. While such information may sound trivial to some, they are actually very useful to those who wish to study the surfing habits of unsuspecting Internet users. It may even be used for future exploits. This is where an anonymous proxy server is most useful. Try using the abundant proxy servers available freely on the Internet. An example of a popular one would be ShadowSurf and what it really does is covering up your virtual trail as you surf the Internet. You can visit any site you like without leaving any proof that it was you. The trick is to access ShadowSurf first and then type in or paste the URL of the site you wish to visit in the text box located in the middle of the main page; and click the adjacent "Surf anonymously.." button. It is important to note here that accessing a website through a proxy may cost a bit of your surfing speed. Imagine it this way.. you are not directly going to a particular site like from A to B. Instead, you are going to B first and ask B to visit C on your behalf. Therefore, whoever is waiting for your surfing information at C will see that it is B who is visiting the site -- although in reality it was A (you). Hence, you are not getting profiled and C will be getting bogus statistics. Unless.. B is also collecting information of people they helped to get to C anonymously. What a bummer that would be. :p

Ironically.. this is also the most popular way to get around site restriction or blocking; pretty much since the blocking itself is mainly deployed through a proxy. A backfire indeed. I will, however, save this one for another post, insyaAllah.

Happy surfing anonymously!